Follistatin-Like 1 Attenuation Suppresses Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Mice through Interacting with TNF-α and Smad Signaling Pathway

Figure 3

FSTL-1-knockdown mice had reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines in the IVDs. (a) Immunohistochemical staining of COX-2, MMP-13, and ADAMTS-5 in the degenerative discs of WT and FSTL-1+/- mice. Magnification ×200, ×400. . (b–d) Quantitative analysis of the positive areas of COX-2, MMP-13, and ADAMTS-5 in WT and FSTL-1+/- mice by immunohistochemical staining. The values are the of at least 3 independent experiments; , , .

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